COM 0349.943 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Report Summary The Ka'u Listening Project: "Talk Story until There is a Balance" Background The Mayor of Hawaii County, Mayor Harry Kim, asked James Kent Associates (JKA) to field a team in the Ka'u District to talk with people about their concerns involving development and change. Two questions focused the JKA listening project: 1. What do people in Ka'u want for their future? 2. What balance is possible between conservation of resources and economic health of the community, especially related to the Sea Mountain Five proposal? JKA fielded a team of 7 between August 2 and September 7, 2007, who talked with more than 500 people in the Ka'u District by: a) mingling in the community at local gathering places; b) continually asking, "Who else should we talk with?" c) attending over 22 public events; d) attending over 37 community organizations and churches inviting participation; and e) posting a flyer during the last ten days of field time, inviting people to call. People were eager to talk and appreciated the confidential nature of the talkstory. We strived to get broad geographic coverage in the area as well as talkstory with every kind of person in terms of ethnicity, occupation, age, interest, and time on island. Findings ualities. The people of Pahala, Na'alehu, Ocean View and surrounding settlements were found to have vitality and talent, bringing to bear enormous resourcefulness and creativity to make a life for themselves, their families and their communities. These four human qualities--vitality, talent, resourcefulness and creativity--are the core upon which the future can be built. Natural Resources and Families. People want to take care of both the natural resources and their families. They are especially concerned that their children will have options in their Iives~ptions in Ka'u. They are also concerned about the extent of long commutes out of the area for those who have jobs and the exodus from the area of young people who do not have jobs. Physical, Social, and Financial Capital. The Ka't7 area is rich in natural capital (physical resources) and social capital (people resources), but weak in financial capital (economic resources). Residents believe active efforts to promote economic development are necessary to foster a balance among the three capital elements for sustainable communities and resources. Conservation vs. Preservation. People reflected in their talk the concept of conservation rather than preservation. The notion that a resource would be locked up and taken away from people (preservation) was foreign to them. Instead they want a future where the people resources can interact with the natural resources-to the benefit of both. Save Both the Turtles and the People. The concern for taking care of natural resources was virtually universal, and there was full agreement about the importance of preserving access to the ocean, a local feel to the Punalu'u beach, and protection of shoreline resources. At the same time, residents don't want people to be sacrificed for environmental protection-"Save the turtles and save the people, too, " was a theme throughout the communities. James Kent Associates 1